ESU Backup Insider

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania is among the top 65 colleges and universities nationwide being recognized by Phi Theta Kappa as a member of the 2017 Transfer Honor Roll, which identifies the top four-year colleges and universities for creating dynamic pathways to support community college transfer. Other institutions joining ESU in this honor include: Ohio State University, Iowa State University, the University of Arizona and University of Kansas. Phi Theta Kappa is the oldest, largest and most prestigious honor society recognizing students pursuing two-year degrees, comprised of more than 3 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in nine nations.

“Once again, we are pleased to be included as a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Honor Roll. Each year, more than 900 students choose to transfer to East Stroudsburg University. We take great pride in our transfer programs and know that they work for our students,” said President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D. “ESU is committed to developing collaborative partnerships with community colleges in order develop program –to-program and dual admission agreements that students want and need to succeed.”

Applications were scored on institutional partnerships, community college collaboration, pre- and post-transfer institutional support, data tracking and transfer pathway innovations.

The colleges and universities, which offer exemplary programs, initiatives, and benefits for community college transfers, will be featured in the 2017 Phi Theta Kappa Partners in Excellence publication, distributed to higher education leaders nationally, and will receive recognition on Phi Theta Kappa’s website and at PTK Catalyst, Phi Theta Kappa’s 2017 annual convention in Nashville, Tennessee, April 6-8.“I applaud our admissions team and those who work to initiate transfer articulation agreements for the great work they do to ensure that a student’s transition to ESU is efficient and convenient,” said David Bousquet, ESU vice president for enrollment management. “We are also extremely fortunate to have partnered on dual enrollment agreements with four community colleges who are equally inspired to make students successful.”

Phi Theta Kappa CEO Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner said the new recognition program reflects the growing importance of transfer in helping the U.S. achieve its college completion goals, and will promote further study and sharing of best practices.

“Increasingly, students of all ages and achievement levels are choosing the community college, not only as their first step, but also their first choice, in the pursuit of a quality, affordable bachelor’s degree,” Tincher-Ladner said. “With this designation, we hope to connect community college students with institutions who value their unique transfer experience and prioritize their success.”

Tincher-Ladner added that colleges and universities who provide high-quality transfer programs benefit from the rich perspective and diversity community college students bring to the student body.

For more information about ESU’s transfer programs, contact the ESU admission office at (570) 422-3542 or visit esu.edu/admissions. To view the list of Phi Theta Kappa honorees for Excellence in Community College Transfer Honor Roll, visit www.ptk.org.